Auburn Skies Novels & Stories

she asked nervously, scared that he would say no. Matteo’s lips curved, slow and certain. "Sure we are friends now so we would definitely hang out together " . . . . . . . . . Across the city, Aubrey wiped her forehead with the back of her hand as she straightened the bed sheets in one of the mansion’s many rooms. Her new job wasn’t easy, but it paid better than anything she’d ever had before. The mansion’s owner, a sophisticated businesswoman, barely made appearances, and the work mostly involved keeping the estate spotless.

Travis’s growl vibrated in the room when he saw the man catch her by the waist. "Is that... Rave?" Sky whispered, leaning in. "What is the BloodMoon Alpha's son doing here?" They saw Aubrey push him away and go inside. A few minutes later, she walked out. Her face was visible on the high-definition camera, she looked angry, tense, and her hand was pressed to her chest. She got into the car. Marcus went inside, came out with a paper bag of food, and got into the driver’s seat. The car started to pull away.

Drax, made from wild fungi and ethanol, was banned within the city limits but could be legally purchased and consumed in the Drock. Mother’s message was particularly relevant today, as my age now permitted me entry. Her second message was not to take unnecessary risks on the ice peaks I planned to climb, a message she knew I always ignored. The third was one I had received continually since my early childhood: “Skye, do not, under any circumstances, exercise your powers and bring attention to yourself.” I had asked why many times, only to receive the same answer. “Because I forbid it.” Or, as I grew older, “Because we have a special ability that can be dangerous and must be concealed.”

Skye Abby clutches my arm, trembling, her breath coming in frigid puffs of white mist. The subway station is nearly frantic with bodies stuffed into heavy winter gear, everyone waiting for the evening train from Aurorium to arrive and offload anyone returning to campus after a day spent running errands in the city.

Just a full tank of gas, six impossible teenagers, and a year we already named ours. The sun climbs higher. The marks on our wrists flare once (bright, proud). And somewhere above the Ozarks, thunder laughs like it’s been waiting for this exact moment since the day we were born. Summer is over. The sky? The sky just got started. The Sky Court Sends an Invitation September 3, 2029 – somewhere west of Amarillo, 2:14 a.m. The sky cracked open at 2:14 a.m. and started bleeding auroras.

Dimas and Aris were busy fishing on the pier, discussing trivial but pleasant things. Maya and I sat in beach chairs, watching Lina guide Bima as he built a sandcastle. The sun began to set, painting the sky with gradients of orange, purple, and gold—a view just as beautiful as the day they were first reunited. "Do you remember what you wrote in that diary?" Lina asked, suddenly walking over to us. Maya smiled thinly. "Every word." "You wrote that you hoped one day I would live in a world where I didn't have to be afraid of anyone," Lina said. "Look at us now. I’m not afraid. And my son... he will grow up never knowing the kind of fear you felt."

I took off for the wild yonder, gazing up at the Milky Way sprawled across the night sky. It was my son's dream. He was a stargazer, an astronomy buff since he was knee-high. On his birthday, he saw his first meteor shower in the wild. Tragically, that same night became his last. I was determined to make his dream come true. The divorce papers, signed by Elias, landed in my mailbox. Maybe it was guilt, but he rewrote the terms, leaving me with a lion's share of our assets. I took it all without batting an eye.

"You still think Skye's just some regular programmer?" Edward's tone was sharp with disbelief. "She's a top-tier hacker I managed to bring back through old connections! Letting her date you back then was me doing you a favor." Julian froze for several seconds, stunned speechless. When he finally found his voice again, it was full of incredulity. "Her?!" "Yes, her!" Edward barked, his patience gone. "Skye was the best match I could've arranged for you, and look what you've done! You went and got another woman pregnant—what a disgrace!"

I raised my eyebrow as a smirk crept on my face. The bell suddenly rang, giving me the energy to shoot out of the room. I did not even try to glance at Fionna. It's time she realizes the value of teamwork and contribution. I felt my friends walking behind me, as I marched out of the building. We just reached the wide field, but we were already chasing our breath. Why does universities built to be this huge when at the end of the day we'll all just go home? "Where are you going, Aurora?" Rita finally asked in the middle of our walk.

he points next door to my old home. "I just moved in here late last night." "Her dad is an abusive drinker and likes to beat her for the hell of it," Dom says from behind us in the garage doorway. "Toss me your lighter, Mar." I turn around and toss it to him so he can light his smoke. He doesn't care if we smoke as long as we buy our own packs and we smoke outside. Where we live, seventeen is the legal age. Dom comes over and introduces himself to Jason and we talk for a few minutes until Pa comes walking out of the house toward us. "Shit," I mutter as I take another hit.